Compressor power supply

[jandm17]

sorry to sound totally knowledgeless but i am - Santa has just bought my partner a new Clarke 240v 3hp compressor. It says dont wire to 13 amp plug, someone said we could wire to cooker outlet using, 32amp sockets, cable etc.
we would need to run an extension cable from cooker supply to the compressor.

does anyone know if this would be ok?
does it need to be 32amp cable?
if so does anyone know the cheapest place to purchase it?
Any help would by HUGELY appreciated

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hi jandm17, welcome to the forum .
Ideally, what you'd do is to run a new supply directly from a spare way in the consumer unit to the compressor via an isolator. I run my 3HP off a 16A supply and it's fine.
Unfortunately, that sort of work is covered by the Part-P regulations so you should get a qualified electrician to carry out the work or, if you do it yourself, notify your labc and get them to inspect and certify it.

 

[Archie]

What I would do is wire it into a 13 amp plug and give it a go. These things tend to draw quite a few amps at startup and then less during operation so the biggest problem is likely to be the trip going when it's first fired it up. If the trip doesn't go and it all runs smoothly then it'll more than likely be absolutely fine on the 13 amp plug provided it's not going to be used heavily. If it is going to get used for something like spraying or shot blasting where it'll be running constantly for prolonged periods then I'd wire it properly as Woz suggests.

If you do decide to do the wiring then there's a City Electrical Factors in Stratford and the guys there are really helpful.

 

[Wozzaaah]

A 13A supply is no good Archie, I tried it on mine and it started ok a few times but maybe 1 in 3 times it would pop the fuse on startup.

 

[Archie]

Ah well. Looks like it's a trip to CEF then. The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley!

 

[JayRS4]

I`ve got a 3.5KW Fiac, that had a 13amp moulded plug fitted as new, never had any problems with it, but yes, technically it should eb on a properly fitted 16amp

 

[Wozzaaah]

That's 4.69HP Jay! I didn't realise anything that big would run off 13A supply!
Mine is the Clarke SE16C150.

 

[JayRS4]

It does, god only knows how, if i could actually get to it i`d take a pic, but it`s a bit buried. Direct drive too!!!

 

[shenion]

Mine is 5HP and runs off a 15A suppply. I guess it really depends on how easy it starts up and the type of unloader.

I find the direct drive take a lot to start. Mine is belt drive. The length of the feed pipe to the check valve also seems to help.

 

[Dave J]

Mine is 3hp and direct drive, and run's all day on a 13amp plug.

 

[eil]

Rule of thumb allow 5amp/hp, have a butchers at this
http://www.kevinsbrady.net/motors.pdf

 

[chrisg3103]

or theres the option of a funny fuse dont mean an m6 bolt, even i wouldnt do that. but a 13A fuse with a bit of 5A fuse wire jamed in beside it can take a bit of abuse before it pops.
but if you can the dedicated plug is always going to be the best soloution

 

[malcolm]

Watch if you are doing daft things like that Chris - 13 amp plugs aren't actually designed to run at 13 amps for any length of time. Especially not the chinese made ones - they start arcing at the fuse contacts and get hot and smoky after a while. Cheap plug sockets can be dodgy too.

I've wired my compressor from a dedicated supply straight from the consumer unit. Easy enough to do, though such things are supposed to be checked these days.

 

[chrisg3103]

just to handle the initial start up, once its running it draws a lot less. only other thing is if there were slow blow fuses available, be handy

 

[madkayaker]

the plug top fuses are designed to blow in such a time as to prevent damage to the rest of the circuit. The slowblow fuses (clear glass) dont fit in the fuse holderf and are not interchangable. Plug top fuses will take a resinable inrush current to alow for starting.

 

[Icklepepper]

power requirements

Hi there,

I recently bought a 100ltr 2.2kw belt driven compressor which states it requires 13amps, having plugged this into my 5.5kw generator which has 2 13amp outlets it completely blew the AVR unit.

Does anyone know what power generator I need for this compressor and whether the problem is that the compressor needs more juice for the initial start-up?

ta very much.

 

[brightspark]

Hi there,

I recently bought a 100ltr 2.2kw belt driven compressor which states it requires 13amps, having plugged this into my 5.5kw generator which has 2 13amp outlets it completely blew the AVR unit.

Does anyone know what power generator I need for this compressor and whether the problem is that the compressor needs more juice for the initial start-up?

ta very much.

idont know about your genny rating. but a 2.2kw motor starting current is 55amp and 11.5amp full load current

 

[the snooper]

you woud need a 14kw generator just to start it based on brightsparks 55 amp start up draw once running 2.2kw
it wont be interested in running a welder either especially on full power

 

[miggymarky]

Would the motor turn any faster if i were to wire my ingersoll rand into a 16 amp supply,as its currently off a 13 amp plug.

 

[brightspark]

Would the motor turn any faster if i were to wire my ingersoll rand into a 16 amp supply,as its currently off a 13 amp plug.

no the amperage is the current that is drawn when starting and running